Did your boss tell you your colleague went ‘AWOL’ and you have to work the weekend? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this acronym.
Meaning
The acronym ‘AWOL’ stands for ‘Absent Without Leave.’ It’s a military term describing a member of the armed forces who takes leave from their post without the proper authority from their commanding officer. Going AWOL is a serious offense in the military and results in the court-martial of the offending party.
However, in recent years, civilians started using AWOL to describe someone that’s not available. If you have a friend you haven’t seen in a while and haven’t talked to on the phone, you could say they’re AWOL, and you have no idea what they’re doing with their life.
You could also use the phrase to describe someone that doesn’t show up for work, with no explanation for their absence.
Example Usage
“Jean Claude just went AWOL, and the military is trying to track him down. I heard he’s fighting people for money and had to leave to attend a tournament.”
“Military members that go AWOL must undergo a court-martial, and they may receive a prison sentence for deserting their post.”
“I honestly don’t know where john is. He was supposed to turn up for work today, but he’s not answering his phone. I think he’s gone AWOL.”
“While you were AWOL, we were with our friends lying face down in the muck, defending our country. I hope they give you ten years for leaving us like that.”
“I don’t know where she went. She’s been AWOL for the last three hours and didn’t take her phone with her. Maybe we should call the police.”
“Why did you decide to go AWOL? The Captain would have given you leave if you asked for it. Now you’re facing a court martial.”
“It wasn’t my decision to go AWOL. The team I was with just decided to go off the track, and there was nothing I could do to protest the situation.”
“We need to get out of here this weekend. Let’s just go AWOL. If management finds out about it, who cares? It’s not like this is the military, and they’ll court-martial us.”
“If you go AWOL, don’t come back. We don’t want people like that working here. We need to be able to trust you and your commitment to the company.”
Origin
The expression AWOL originates from the United States Military. The US armed forces introduced the acronym shortly after the First World War in the 1920s. The military used the term to describe a person absent without leave from their post.
However, the term started finding its way into mainstream culture in the 1970s and 1980s. Actor Jean Claude Van Damme starred in the movie ‘AWOL’ in 1990, popularizing the term in media.
Phrases Similar to AWOL
- French leave.
- Absent from duty.
- Desertion.
- Hooky.
Phrases Opposite to AWOL
- Planned leave.
What is the Correct Saying?
- AWOL.
- Absent Without Leave.
Ways People May Say AWOL Incorrectly
While AWOL is a military term still in use in the armed forces, it’s also spilled into the mainstream. Now, it’s more common for civilians to use the acronym to describe someone they haven’t seen in a while, not someone breaking the rules. While AWOL is an acronym, it's rare for people to use the full version ‘Absent Without Leave.’
Acceptable Ways to Phrase AWOL
You can use the acronym ‘AWOL’ when describing someone who went missing without any explanation. The phrase is suitable for professional and social conversations. For instance, you could say an employee at work went AWOL and didn’t show up to work on Monday after the weekend, as expected.
Or you could use it with friends to describe how you haven’t seen or heard from someone in a while, and you have no idea where they are or what they’re doing with their life. The phrase suits verbal and text-based communications.